About Chris Johnson

“How I got started”

Growing up in Michigan I was raised by “wolves!” I loved my childhood, and my parents were great, but like many baby boomers there was not a lot of supervision – just be home when the streetlights came on! I was raised on a diet of Captain Crunch cereal with crunch berries (I guess that was my fruit?), whole milk, white bread, bologna and Miracle Whip sandwiches, Beefaroni, and Hostess pies and cupcakes. Kool-Aid and Pepsi were my drinks of choice. I had skin problems from age 10-21, was using cortisone cream along with oral medications for over 10 years, and was told my skin problems were due to my sensitive skin!

My first job after graduating from college with a business degree was with Butternut Bread. I was hired as a route driver delivering white bread along with Dolly Madison cakes. I would get up at 2 a.m. and work until 6 p.m.; working 75-80 hours per week and running the entire day! I was sleep deprived and as I look back my adrenal glands must have been shot! I lost my juice! After one year with Butternut I went to work for Frito-Lay delivering Doritos, Ruffles, Fritos and Soft Cookies – so if you have questions about Munchos, Funyons or Tostitos, I am your guy! Frito-Lay was a much better job with reasonable hours and I stayed with Frito-Lay for seven years. So for almost eight years I virtually lived in the grocery stores watching and learning how the stores get you to buy, but most of all watching and observing the people with what, why and how they filled their grocery carts.

Two years into working at Frito-Lay I knew I wanted to pursue a different path, but what? I looked into physical therapy and medicine, but what really changed my direction was a two-hour talk I had Dr. Kwok Ho, an exercise physiology professor from Michigan State University. Dr. Ho asked all the right questions and as I stood up and got ready to leave he said something to me that I will never forget. He said, “You are a prevention guy so help people get and stay healthy!” So in the fall of 1985 I entered graduate school at MSU and Dr. Ho became my academic advisor.

After going to graduate school and acquiring a degree in exercise physiology, I went to work for Butterworth/Metropolitan Wellness Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Working in the hospital doing stress testing along with speaking to companies about wellness was my first experience with public speaking. Boy was I raw! In 1990 I was hired as the Director of Fitness for the Michigan Athletic Club in East Lansing, Michigan. The Michigan Athletic Club is a large, hospital owned, multi-purpose health club. In 1996 we were one of the first clubs in the United States to do over one million dollars in personal training. I have also done a fair amount of training myself racking up over 17,000 hours of one-on-one personal training. Along the way I was lucky enough to work with some amazing fitness professionals.

After watching members struggle with information regarding weight loss, nutrition, fitness and health, I wanted to help more people so I began doing a few seminars. My first book was titled “Meal Patterning”. I joined the National Speakers Association in 2006 and was introduced to a branding specialist from Colorado. I spent a weekend with him and we came up with the name “On Target Living” – based on my “Food Target”.

Attendance slowly grew, written materials improved, demand increased and after many years of working on my gigs I decided to take my passion full-time! Today I travel the country speaking to corporations, associations and schools. My mission is to help improve the health of people from all over the world…one person at a time! Most people want to have great health, more energy, look good and feel great! They want to be energetic and happy, but most are not as healthy and robust as they could be.

On Target Living means achieving a balanced life with increased energy and vitality by blending intelligent nutrition, quality exercise and restorative rest and recovery. Help me spread the passion and remember to enjoy the journey!

Health & Happiness!

CJ

Disclaimer: This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author. The author is not responsible for our specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervision, or for any adverse reactions to the foods contained in this guide. It is supplied with the understanding that the author is not engaged in rendering medical, health, or any other kind of personal professional services in the book. The reader should consult his or her medical, health, or other competent professional before adopting any of the suggestions in this guide or drawing inferences from it. The author specifically disclaims all responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of the contents of this guide.